My self-publishing journey and other literary moments

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Month: April 2016

Celebrate the Small Things is a weekly celebration created by VikLit and now hosted by Lexa Cain to celebrate the happenings of the week, however small or large. You can learn all about it and sign up for it here.

It’s almost May! Whoo, hoo! I’ll be glad when it gets here because I think April and March switched places this year. I don’t know what the average temps are supposed to be for this time of year, but it’s been in the 20s every morning this week. Brrrrr!

Crazy weather aside, I’d like to celebrate:

That when it SNOWED earlier this week (ugh!), the snow melted quickly and was pretty much gone by the next day.

Another bookselling event coming up on Saturday at the Women’s “We Care” Expo in St. Albans, VT!

Another good book review on Goodreads!

Tune in on Monday for the Cover Reveal of Book 2: Trouble By Any Other Name!

Celebrate the Small Things is a weekly celebration created by VikLit and now hosted by Lexa Cain to celebrate the happenings of the week, however small or large. You can learn all about it and sign up for it here.

Well, another week has whizzed right on by. Fun things to celebrate:

It’s school vacation week! So far, we’ve been indoor rock climbing, go-karting, roller skating, and had a sleepover. We also went to a wonderful barbershoppers concert and sold a lot of Girl Scout cookies. It’s been fun!

My daughter was a Student of the Month for the second time this year!

It’s finally starting to warm up around here. It was so nice to get outside and do some yard work.

In a crumbling, futuristic Las Vegas where the wealthy choose the characteristics of their children like ordering off a drive-thru menu, seventeen-year-old Sienna Preston doesn’t fit in. As a normal girl surrounded by genetically modified teens, all of her imperfections are on display. But after the death of her father, everything she’s ever known and loved changes in an instant.

With little skills to help provide for her family, Sienna clings to the two things that come easily—lying and stealing. But not all thief-for-hire assignments go as planned. When a covert exchange of a stolen computer chip is intercepted, she becomes entangled with a corrupt government official who uses her thieving past as leverage, her mother as collateral, and the genetically modified poster boy she’s falling for as bait.

In order to rescue her mother, there may only be one option—joining forces with the Fringe, an extremist group, and their young leader who’s too hot to be bad. Problem is, these revolutionaries aren’t what they seem, and the secrets they’re hiding could be more dangerous than Sienna is prepared for. In the end, she must be willing to risk everything to save the one thing that matters most.

About the Author:

Kristin Smith writes young adult contemporary and science fiction novels. When she’s not writing, you can find her dreaming about the beach, beating her boys at Just Dance, or belting out karaoke (from the comfort of her own home). Kristin currently resides in the middle-of-nowhere North Carolina with her husband and five incredibly loud but extremely cute boys. To read more about her obsession with YA novels or her addiction to chocolate, you can visit her at kristinsmithbooks.com.

Celebrate the Small Things is a weekly celebration created by VikLit and now hosted by Lexa Cain to celebrate the happenings of the week, however small or large. You can learn all about it and sign up for it here.

This has been an absolutely fantastic week. It started with being contacted by a writers’ group from a neighboring town. They asked if I would come and speak to their group about my book and writing in general. I was surprised and flattered and said I’d be happy to talk to them. They seemed really pleased and excited, which put a smile on my face.

Then midweek, I received an official Library of Congress (LOC) cataloging number for Book 2. Whoo hoo! I didn’t get one for my first book, partly because as a newbie, I didn’t know I needed to apply for one before the book was published and partly because I wasn’t sure self-published books could get them. Without that all-important cataloging number and information, libraries aren’t likely to buy the book because they’d have to create the catalog entries themselves and few are willing to do that. Apparently it’s quite a complicated process, as I found out from trying to get Book 1 into my local library.

As it is, I had to go through a two-step process to get the number. First, I had to apply online for an account in the LOC’s Preassigned Control Number (PCN) program. Because I have my own publishing company imprint, my application was accepted, and I was given an account number and password. (Yay!) Then, I had to fill out another online application for the book itself. I received an e-mail the next day approving the application and giving the PCN number. (Lots of happy dancing going on!)

And then to top the week off, I received a stellar book review (which can be read HERE) from a high school student who had bought Book 1 from me at VT Comic Con last fall. (Happy dancing ten feet off the ground, at this point!)

Celebrate the Small Things is a weekly celebration created by VikLit and now hosted by Lexa Cain to celebrate the happenings of the week, however small or large. You can learn all about it and sign up for it here.

This week hasn’t been the greatest, what with my son being sick with a bad cold for most of the week, with the issues I had with piracy, and with the fact that it’s snowing again as I’m writing this. Still, there are some good things to celebrate:

It’s Friday! Enough said.

Spring will eventually get here. I just have to have a little more patience.

Now that my edits are done, I’m starting to get caught up with some other things that were piling up.

Today’s the day for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) where, on the first Wednesday of every month, writers get together to share their insecurities and offer encouragement. The IWSG was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and you can learn all about it and sign up for it here.

A few days ago I received a Google Alert e-mail message alerting me that the title of my book and/or my name had popped up somewhere on the web. I followed the link and ended up at a site called TzarMedia.com. According to the site, if I signed up for an account, I could download my book for free. Completely unauthorized, with no compensation to the author or publisher.

Yes, I’ve been pirated.

When I clicked on the link again to go back and send a take-down notice, I ended up at a different site, LipsMedia.com. Then it was LilPlay.com, then DonnaPlay.com. I sent take-down notices all around, though I know it’s an exercise in futility.

It’s really infuriating to know that your hard work can be stolen so easily. With all the advanced technology out there today, it seems like there should be a way to eradicate these sites.

Has anyone out there had any luck dealing with pirate sites? What did you do?

*****

On a happier note, I’m planning on doing a cover reveal for my second book, Trouble By Any Other Name, on May 2nd, which is a Monday.

If anyone would like to help me out with the cover reveal, I’d really appreciate it! Please let me know in the comments. Thank you!!!

Celebrate the Small Things is a weekly celebration created by VikLit and now hosted by Lexa Cain to celebrate the happenings of the week, however small or large. You can learn all about it and sign up for it here.

I know it’s been awhile since I posted. I’ve been spending every free minute on my edits, and today I’m happy to say, I’m FINALLY done. It’s time to celebrate! Whoo hoo!!

Book 2 is a big step closer to reality. Unfortunately, it didn’t leave me any time to prepare for A to Z, so I’m going to have to bow out this year. I’ll be around to visit, though. I’m looking forward to seeing all the interesting topics everyone has come up with.

Can’t wait to see Book 2 in print! So far, I’m on target for May. Fingers crossed!

Current work includes fantasy, and science fiction and other genres coming in the near future. Follow me on Twitter @nmlromer for news! Visit www.nathaliemlromer.com for most information about my books and about me!